Courting India by Surya Das
England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire
A vivid history of the first sustained encounter between an English embassy and the Mughal court in the early 1600s, following the envoy’s negotiations with Emperor Jahangir amid elaborate rituals, cultural misunderstandings, and hard bargaining over trade privileges. Drawing on letters, diaries, and courtly art, it reveals the sophistication and agency of Mughal diplomacy, the precarious ambitions of a relatively minor European power, and the role of gift-giving, etiquette, and personal relationships in shaping early global commerce. The story shows how tentative exchanges at Surat, Ajmer, and beyond helped lay the foundations—often unintentionally—for later imperial expansion, while illuminating the textures of everyday life and politics in both worlds.
- Published
- 2023
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 400-500
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
- No ratings yet
- Alternate Titles
- None
This book is not currently on any lists.